Air Frying

Air Frying 101

Start Here - Heat up the Fryer

Since every fryer is a little different, be sure to follow the instructions on yours. I always do a quick check to make sure nothing was left inside the fryer. Some fryers heat up and start the timer without waiting for the food to be placed inside. These are difficult to use and inconvenient. Make sure the food is ready before you start. This means you have to stand by the unit and watch for the start time. The Ninja unit I use heats up and pauses, displaying “add food.” It doesn’t get simpler than that.

Load the basket

Most air fryers come with a special frying basket. Notice the holes in the bottom. These holes help with circulation so that the food cooks on all sides. Some people find silicone and parchment paper liners helpful for reducing cleaning efforts. Double basket fryers can usually cook independently, like having two units in one. There are so many options for fryers! It really depends on how much food needs to be cooked.

Cook

Simply close the lid or push in the basket. There is no special technique to air frying.

Maintenance

Most air fryers get dirty and need to be cleaned. I found two video examples for cleaning different types of air fryers. I like the Ninja Woodfire because it can cook in many different ways, but it is mostly for outdoors. It can be used indoors, except for the smoker function.

The Crispi is different — the bottom is the cooking, serving, and storage dish! It is so easy to clean! For busy people with limited space, this is my favorite.

Don’t forget about reheating food in the air fryer. A quick blast on full high is perfect to get it warmed up without being soggy. The microwave oven can’t compete with an air fryer for reheating.